1960 Atom Skier Fin Boat Recondition

They always come apart easier than they go together....

....got me laughing on that one Bruce. Seriously, the fins are a necessity!

That 360 is a bruiser Bruce. No doubt both boats move right along. Can't wait to get mine out on the water. The Atom is a couple feet shorter so the 327 is a lot of motor crammed into a small sled. I am thinking they will perform similar. It is still a beauty as you say even after JohnB and I get done picking it apart.

Good eye John. You picked out the things I like least about it also. My fins might be a bit higher but they are narrower at the bottom which makes a big difference in the look. I venture a guess that some of the chrome accessories and edging are not from the factory and the same applies to the cut-water.

This boat does offer a good example of bleached and natural finished areas referred to as "blond". I intend to do a similar treatment to mine with the new deck. Can't remember if it's Okume or Meranti marine plywood but I hope it gives a similar end result.

John, I like this boat but I like mine better. Less bells and whistles and more raw HP LOL. I do however hope the seller gets his price as it helps all CC woody owners in asset appreciation. The Florida weather has been good to both me and the fin boat and progress is being made on the deck fore and aft. A few pictures to follow any day now.

.just a couple teasers.......

Sorry Pete but I've got a gut feeling finner is in fla.

Burton

Where is the ole fin boat now?

FINS wrote: If you take the picture from the right angle, you can't even see the painted decks!! I can tell that she is smiling from here Jack. Keep up the great work and pictures!

Hey Brian, Thought you'd be looking in to see if any progress. Still pushing to get boat and owner down to FL for the winter. Perhaps the meet at Dora? The painted decks do curse the boat for sure and that improvement will be the single most important one done in the near future.

By the way...was reading with earnest(read, wishing I was there)the article this weekend on Woody Boater about the Mahogany and Merlot annual event at Lake Chelan. Took me a couple reads to realize that you were in the article with I guess your Dad and cruising in that fine Tollycraft you have done such a nice job on. I expect to be at that event in the future so may see you there. It can be a very nice time of year in your part of the country.

8122pbrainard wrote: Jack, How do all the seams look? Are the screw fills popping due to the skin being loose to the frames or do you think just a moisture issue? Keep going!!

Pete, the skins seem to be pretty solid. I didn't give it the restoration type bottom treatment. just wanted to upkeep the bottom. Like most of em this age it would probably feel real happy with a 5200 job but not on my watch for this one. I hope to enjoy it for a while.

Jack,
How do all the seams look? Are the screw fills popping due to the skin being loose to the frames or do you think just a moisture issue? Keep going!!

As the summer winds down I have begun to make some small progress on the nomadic fin boat. With every intention of taking her south to winter over in Florida, the trailer with the broken spring was a priority. It has been repaired like new and just the hubs need servicing now. I found it near impossible to do a good repair with the boat loaded so I blocked it up and slid the trailer out. This accomplished I realized my opportunity was presented to get at least a coat of paint on the bottom. Not an easy chore ever but necessary. I have just started priming the bottom and will soon be filling screw holes and then the final coat. Pictures soon.

Kristof wrote: nautique frk wrote: Looks like the Van on American Pickers Show !! Saw a few of those when I made my trip to the US... Funny to see they are Dodges over there... That exact same van is the Mercedes Sprinter over here. Very common van here. Great pics and trip. Looking forward on the next episode of this adventure...

Hey Kristof, They are all made by Mercedes however here they are sold under the names of all three, including Freightliner. Same van and confusing. I love the mileage and comfort for a utility vehicle.

Glad you are enjoying my adventures with the new fin boat which rightfully deserves to be named Nomad.

8122pbrainard wrote: Jack, If your seams are new and have crisp edges, the easy way I have found to finish them is slop the paint in them just before your last coat of spar. Then, hard block wet sand across the top. It will remove the paint slopped outside the seam. The caulk is only needed on real seams. Since you will be using ply, all your seams will be fake.

The diversity of your knowledge never ceases to amaze me Pete,as soon as I read your advice for the lines I knew it was the way to go. I have even edge razored off the excess before wet sanding in similar situations way in my past. Thanks

8122pbrainard wrote: Jack, Did you use a grain filler/stain on the dog house? I find them pretty easy to use and blend to get the color even. Plus, without the grain filling on a open grain wood like mahoganies, you will never fill up the pores with the top coat.

I'm sure you are right on needing the grain filler Pete and I didn't. I consider the alteration a temp fix and used what I had around for the finish. Expect to be making a new box down the road. Think the original had a two tone stain with white stripes down the middle. I also need to determine the best way to run the fake filler lines, some have painted them and some had used caulk. What's best? Another problem I found is that the marine ply that I have had either a meranti veneer or some other which stains differently than mahogany. May need to seal the grain before staining.